Building a Martian Gunpla Diorama Base: Barbatos vs Hashmal Part 1

TL;DR: In Part 1 of this new Gunpla diorama series, I’m planning a Martian battlefield display inspired by the clash between Gundam Barbatos and Hashmal from Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans. Using a circular base, XPS foam, texture paste, sand, gravel, Vallejo acrylic paints, washes, and pigments, the goal is to create a harsh, damaged battlefield that supports the story of the build.

Sometimes, the most important part of a Gunpla build isn’t the kit itself. It’s the world you place it in.

A great display base can completely change how a finished model feels. Instead of simply standing on a shelf, the kit becomes part of a scene. It tells a story. It creates atmosphere. It gives the build weight, presence, and purpose.

For this project, I wanted to recreate one of the most iconic moments from Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans: the brutal clash between Gundam Barbatos and the terrifying Hashmal.

It’s a fight that feels raw, violent, and desperate. Barbatos charging across the barren landscape of Mars while Hashmal tears through everything in its path. It’s one of those scenes that sticks with you.

I didn’t want to just build the kit. I wanted to build that moment.

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Recreating the Barbatos vs Hashmal Battle

The fight between Barbatos and Hashmal has such a strong sense of movement and impact. It feels chaotic, dangerous, and heavy, which made it the perfect inspiration for a diorama.

That meant the base couldn’t be simple. It needed to feel harsh, damaged, and alive.

Mars in Iron-Blooded Orphans has a very distinct atmosphere. It’s dry, unforgiving, and scarred by conflict. The terrain feels ancient and hostile, with rocky cliffs, broken ground, dust-covered surfaces, and the sense that every battle leaves permanent damage behind.

That became the core inspiration for the diorama.

Rather than using a plain action base or a clean display stand, I wanted a battlefield. Something that looked like Barbatos had just entered the scene, ready for impact. I wanted the environment to carry the same intensity as the fight itself.

Early concept planning for the Martian battlefield layout, using raised terrain and open space to frame the Barbatos vs Hashmal scene.

Planning the Diorama Base

The circular base gave me the perfect starting point.

Instead of building a wide-open desert, I chose to create a more focused environment using elevated rock walls and broken terrain to frame the scene. The rear cliff sections help create depth and visual tension, while the open front keeps the action visible and draws the eye straight toward the centre.

This wasn’t just about terrain. It was about storytelling.

The layout needed to support the confrontation between Barbatos and Hashmal. Where would Barbatos be standing? What direction would Hashmal be approaching from? Where should the viewer’s eye land first?

These decisions matter more than people realise.

One of the easiest mistakes with diorama building is creating the environment first and forcing the model into it later. I wanted to avoid that completely. The terrain had to serve the fight scene, not compete with it.

Designing the Scene Around Movement

I planned the base around movement.

Barbatos is aggressive and forward-driven, so the terrain needed to reflect that energy. Uneven ground, broken surfaces, and crater-like details help create the sense of motion and destruction.

Raised sections around the back help frame the battle, while the lower front area gives the scene breathing room and keeps the focus on the clash itself.

Height variation was essential.

Flat terrain would kill the drama. Mars needed to feel rough and unstable, like every step carried weight. Layered rock walls and fractured surfaces helped create that sense of impact, almost like the battlefield itself had been torn apart by the fight.

Materials Used for the Diorama

Once the concept was locked in, it was time to gather materials.

The main structure started with XPS insulation foam. It’s one of the best materials for terrain building because it’s lightweight, easy to cut, and perfect for shaping natural forms like cliffs and broken ground.

It also takes texture incredibly well, which is ideal when trying to create rough Martian rock formations.

For the foundation, I used a solid circular base to support the structure and keep everything stable once texture, paint, and the final models were added.

For this stage of the build, I used:

• XPS insulation foam for the main terrain structure

• A solid circular base for stability

• Texture paste for rough surfaces and blending seams

• PVA glue for adhesion and sealing

• Sand and small gravel for loose debris

• Vallejo acrylic paints for the dusty Martian colour palette

• Washes and pigments for weathering and realism

The main materials for the diorama base include foam, texture paste, gravel, paints, washes, and pigments.

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Why Diorama Building Rewards Imperfection

One of the best parts of terrain building is that perfection doesn’t belong here.

Mars isn’t clean. Battlefields aren’t tidy. Rocks crack, surfaces erode, and destruction leaves scars. Diorama work rewards imperfection. The rougher and more natural it feels, the stronger the final scene becomes.

That contrast is part of what makes it so satisfying.

Gunpla building often focuses on precision: clean nub removal, sharp panel lines, smooth paintwork, and perfect symmetry.

Diorama work is the opposite.

It thrives on controlled chaos.

At this stage, the project still looked like little more than stacked foam and rough ideas. But every great display starts there.

Before the painting, before the weathering, before Barbatos stands against Hashmal, it starts with shape.

Just foam. Just planning. Just a possibility.

And honestly, that might be my favourite part.

Because once the vision is clear, everything else becomes about bringing that battle to life.

Key Takeaways

• A strong diorama starts with story, not just scenery. For this project, every part of the base needed to support the clash between Barbatos and Hashmal.

• The circular base helped keep the scene focused, while the raised rear cliffs and lower front area created depth, movement, and a clear viewing angle.

• XPS foam is ideal for this kind of terrain work because it is lightweight, easy to carve, and perfect for building rocky surfaces.

• Most importantly, the base needed to feel damaged, imperfect, and alive. That roughness is what helps sell the atmosphere of a Martian battlefield.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why build a diorama base for Gunpla?

A diorama base helps turn a finished Gunpla kit into a complete scene. It adds story, atmosphere, and context, making the model feel more dynamic than it would on a plain shelf or display stand.

What is XPS foam used for in diorama building?

XPS foam is commonly used to create terrain, cliffs, rock walls, ruins, and raised surfaces. It is lightweight, easy to cut, and can be carved or textured to create natural-looking scenery.

Why use a circular base?

A circular base helps keep the composition focused. For this build, it allowed the scene to feel contained while still giving enough room for movement, height variation, and visual direction.

What colours work best for a Martian battlefield?

Dusty reds, browns, ochres, muted oranges, and darker weathered tones work well for a Mars-inspired landscape. Washes and pigments can help add depth, dust, and realism.

Is this diorama suitable for beginners?

Yes, especially if you start simple. Foam terrain is forgiving, and small mistakes can often make the final result look more natural. The key is planning the scene before gluing or painting anything in place.

Final Thoughts

This first stage was all about planning the world around the model.

The Barbatos vs Hashmal fight needed more than a simple display base. It needed a battlefield that felt harsh, unstable, and full of impact. By starting with the layout, height variation, and overall story of the scene, the diorama already had a clear direction before construction began.

In the next blog, I’ll be diving into the construction process: cutting, layering, carving, and transforming simple foam into the harsh Martian battlefield where Barbatos and Hashmal will collide.

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